Latest data: New UK Cases: 47,806 + 5,903 from previous day
Sadly 4,934 people have now died as a result of the Coronavirus, an increase of 621 on the previous day’s figures. In Stockport, there are 225 confirmed cases.
Due to a rise in demand, do you or your business have any spare PPE equipment?
http://www.stockportccg.nhs.uk/contact-us/
Stockport CCG is asking businesses to help keep a healthy stock of PPE.
In particular they are looking to companies who may have a stock of disposable gloves, disposable plastic aprons and fluid resistant gowns, surgical masks and fluid resistant surgical masks, filtering face piece respirator and eye/face protection.
COVID-19: guidance for employees, employers and businesses
Added guidance on use of face masks in the community to guidance for employees, employers and businesses in providing advice about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Annual inspection waiver for tank vehicles
Notice allowing tank vehicles, now including V11 ADR vehicles, with extended roadworthiness test certificates, to remain in service and on our roads without a valid ADR 1(C) certificate.
Construction Enquirer – Coronavirus update for construction:
The UK Government has extended the CBILS so that all viable small businesses affected by COVID-19 will now be eligible should they need finance. UK Government has also stopped lenders from requesting personal guarantees for loans under £250,000 and has made operational changes to speed up lending approvals. The government will continue to cover the first twelve months of interest and fees. Please find further details here.
A new CLBILS will provide a UK government guarantee of 80% to enable banks to make loans of up to £25 million to firms with an annual turnover of between £45 million and £500 million. Please find initial details here.
Government media conferences: Coronavirus updates – Friday 3rd, Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th April:
Friday 3rd April:
As of latest official figures released, 163,194 (152,979) people have been tested, 33,718 (29,474) tested positive and very sadly a total of 2,921 (2,352) have now passed away. 140 (107) confirmed cases in Stockport *previous day’s figures in brackets
- 7,000 NHS have been tested
- NHS Nightingale Hospital has opened in London
- Two new additional hospitals to be built in Bristol and Harrogate
- 26 million PPE sets delivered to 281 organisations on 2nd April
- Clinical trials continue
- A Business Interruption Loan Scheme announced for larger companies
Secretary of State for Education Gavin Williamson has written to the Chief Regulator of Ofqual about how grades will be calculated in lieu of exam results. Ofqual have also made an announcement on this same subject.
The Education and Skills Funding Agency released new guidance for skills providers, warning that colleges that under deliver their education budget allocations this year will have their funding limited, either directly or through subcontractors.
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Robert Jenrick has given councils the power to hold public meetings virtually.
Science Minister Amanda Solloway has made available a £20m fund available to help the UK’s businesses be resilient against the impact of coronavirus.
Environment Minister Rebecca Pow has announced a fund that will help food redistribution services cut food waste during the coronavirus pandemic.
Slides and datasets to accompany coronavirus press conference: 3 April 2020
Press conference slides and datasets used by Matt Hancock
Coronavirus (COVID-19): maintaining further education provision
Updated Operational guidance for further education (FE) providers on maintaining education and skills training provision.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): cancellation of GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2020
Updated guidance to answer common questions in relation to the cancellation of GCSEs, AS and A levels due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in 2020: cancellation of GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2020’ to reflect new guidance from Ofqual.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): business support grant funding – guidance for local authorities
Information about State Aid added to the guidance for local authorities – details of the Small Business Grants Fund (SBGF) and Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund (RHLGF).
Coronavirus (COVID-19): tell us you can produce testing kits and services
‘Provide lab capacity’ has been added to forms for organisations that can manufacture and supply testing consumables, equipment and laboratory PPE as part of the coronavirus (COVID-19) response.
COVID-19: guidance for employees, employers and businesses
Details about the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme added to guidance for employees, employers and businesses in providing advice about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
World’s largest trial of potential coronavirus treatments rolled out across the UK
The largest randomised clinical trial of potential coronavirus (COVID-19) treatments is underway as part of the race to find a treatment.
COVID-19 health, care and volunteer workers parking pass and concessions
Guidance and terms of use for the parking pass and concessions for COVID-19 health, care and volunteer workers.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for children’s social care services
Advice about coronavirus (COVID-19) for local authorities and their partners to help support and protect vulnerable children.
UK medicines and medical devices regulator investigating 14 cases of fake or unlicensed COVID-19 medical products
An increasing number of bogus medical products being sold through unauthorised websites claiming to treat or prevent COVID-19 are being investigated by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
NHS asks people to share their coronavirus symptoms to help others
A new Coronavirus Status Checker will help the NHS coordinate its response and build up additional data on the COVID-19 outbreak.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): scaling up testing programmes
How the government intends to scale up testing programmes to provide a test to anyone who needs one.
COVID-19: guidance for health professionals
Added ‘management of exposed healthcare workers and patients in hospital settings’ to information on COVID-19, including guidance on the assessment and management of suspected UK cases.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): school closures
Information added to what schools will need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Updated information about workforce and critical workers.
Stockport Small Business Grant Funding
As of Friday 3rd April, Stockport Council has paid the first 630 of their coronavirus Small Business Grants. That’s £9.330,00million which is being paid out to businesses in Stockport.
Visit https://www.stockport.gov.uk/start/small-business-grant-funding to see if your business could benefit.”
Saturday 4th April:
Coronavirus case in Stockport: 193 up from 156 on previous day
As of latest official figures released, 173,784 (163,194) people have been tested, 38,168 (33,718) tested positive and very sadly a total of 3,605 (2,921) people have died. *previous day’s figures in brackets
Slides and datasets to accompany coronavirus press conference: 4 April 2020
Press conference slides and datasets used by Professor Stephen Powis.
Sunday 5th April
Health Secretary Matt Hancock hosted the daily press briefing accompanied by Jennie Harries, Deputy Chief Medical Officer
- Matt Hancock will host the daily press briefings
- Government will not rule out further steps in terms of social distancing
- Warning that public exercise could be banned if people continue to flout the rules but there are no imminent plans to change current guidance
- Surge in new cases
- Target of 18,000 new ventilators over the next week
- Adequate supply of oxygen in UK hospitals
Slides and datasets to accompany coronavirus press conference: 5 April 2020
In an address to the nation, the Queen urged people to practice “self-discipline and resolve”.
Other media / news headlines:
750,000 self-employed miss out on government coronavirus support
Furloughed staff can still undergo training, Lawyers say
UK banks banned from requesting personal guarantees for loans
Emergency loans announced for UK’s ‘squeezed middle’ companies
UK Government overhauls emergency business loans after complaints
Update on Stockport businesses grant funding payments:
The grant funds, designed to assist qualifying Stockport businesses affected by the Covid-19 crisis, will be available for businesses to access as soon as the monies have cleared their bank accounts which may vary according to the bank provider.
The Government have also released a set of frequently asked questions to support businesses to understand the grant schemes and these can be found https://marketingstockport.co.uk/news/covid-19-grant-funding-schemes-frequently-asked-questions-faqs
The system generates a form and sends it out to businesses if their information is incomplete or incorrect – it is important that businesses respond to these forms quickly to avoid delay in any payments they may be eligible for.
Government Guide to accessing grant funding
Access an easy to follow guide on who is eligible for grant funding and how to access funding grant
The Government has issued a list of Frequently Asked Questions and corresponding answers around Grant Funding – https://marketingstockport.co.uk/news/covid-19-grant-funding-schemes-frequently-asked-questions-faqs/
Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance on business support grant funding
Guidance for local authorities setting out details of the Small Business Grants Fund (SBGF) and Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund (RHLGF). Version 3 published with updates on State Aid, monitoring and reporting requirements, new annexes on state aid, Spotlight, and post payment checks, clarification of eligibility of charities.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): business support grant funding – guidance for local authorities
Funding break down by local authority
Business rates: expanded retail discount – guidance
Guidance updated to confirm that the government’s assessment that the expanded retail discount is not a state aid, and that local authorities should therefore award relief to all eligible properties.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): business support grant funding – guidance for businesses
HMRC are delivering a programme of webinars on measures to support employers, employees and the self-employed through this period of disruption caused by COVID-19. You can watch a video of the first recorded webinar and register for future webinars using the link: bit.ly/HMRCWebinar
Personal protective equipment (PPE): export control process
Information for economic operators who will temporarily need a licence to export PPE outside the EU, EFTA member states and certain other territories.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): admission and care of people in care homes
How to protect care home residents and staff during the coronavirus outbreak.
BCC Coronavirus Business Impact Tracker
First results show heavy toll on UK business communities as majority of firms face cash flow crisis
‘Stay at Home, Protect the NHS, Save lives’.
New Updates and Guidance – Business Support FAQs
Frequently asked questions for businesses and employers, on business closures and stay at home, and on the self-employment income support scheme, are available on the business support website.
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Stockport Jobs Match
As a result of the Coronavirus outbreak, some sectors have seen a huge surge in demand for their goods and services leaving them with an immediate shortage of staff.
Stockport Council has launched a FREE job matching website to help support employers with vacancies and individuals across the Stockport borough who are looking for work.
The service, Stockport Jobs Match, will help to connect employers who have urgent temporary or permanent vacancies with applicants who are immediately available and in need of employment.
There is also a call for temporary staff to cover priority functions due to sickness.
The Stockport Jobs Match service is a free to use resource for both individuals and businesses. The website will also help signpost individuals to available support services and information.
How are you doing?
If you are a business owner in Stockport, Totally Stockport and Stockport Council are also keen to find out what your needs are at this difficult time so they can provide the most appropriate advice and support.
To help them understand more, visit www.bidsurvey.com and help them to help you.
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Useful links:
Government – Business Support:
https://www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support/
Government – Business Support: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19
Government – Financial Support:
Government – Business Support:
Bank of England – Financial Support:
https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/news/2020/march/the-covid-corporate-financing-facility
Stockport Council Grant scheme:
https://www.stockport.gov.uk/business-rates-support-measures
Gov.uk: Maintaining Educational Provision:
UK Lockdown – Further businesses to close and exceptions:
Business Growth Hub:
www.businessgrowthhub.com/coronavirus
Food & Drink – advice and guidance:
Health – updates from NHS
https://www.england.nhs.uk/news/
Health – Shielding the most vulnerable
Travel:
https://media.northernrailway.co.uk/news/coronavirus-travel-information
Recruitment: – DWP and Universal Credit
Retail: An update form British Retail Consortium
https://brc.org.uk/news/corporate-affairs/coronavirus-latest-retailer-activity/
Useful information for the Self-Employed:
News and Guidance for the self-employed:
Concerned how Coronavirus might impact you and your business?
Please get in touch with Enterprising You and you will be connected to someone who can help. You can also access information and guidance including the latest Government updates via www.businessgrowthhub.com/coronavirus
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2020/03/uk-coronavirus-help-and-your-rights/#vid
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